Real estate sector continues to lead on sustainability: GRESB

This year’s Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) reveals that sustainability reporting has improved in coverage and quality of data, with the average overall score increasing due to increasing implementation and measurement.

The average score is now 47 (out of 100) which is up nine points this year. The benchmark collects data from 637 listed property companies and private equity real estate funds, covering 56,000 buildings with an aggregate value of $2.1 trillion.

GRESB found that collectively, in 2013, the commercial real estate sector reduced its energy consumption by about 0.8 per cent, carbon emissions fell by 0.3 per cent, and water consumption fell by 2.3 per cent.

Sustainability is assessed annually by GRESB with a focus on: executive decisions, plans and policies; performance measurement; and stakeholder engagement.

The data provided by GRESB allows pension funds and other institutional investors to incorporate responsible investment principles into their decision-making. It is a source of portfolio-level sustainability data for the real estate industry, with  more than 40 institutional investors, representing $5.5 trillion in assets under management, using it for timely, actionable information about the sustainability performance of property portfolios.

Five years after the launch of the benchmark in 2009, GRESB participation has become standard practice for many of the world’s fund managers and listed property companies. There has been a more than 220 percent increase in response rate since 2009.

Sponsored Content

To view the results click here

 

Leave a Comment

Sort content by

Opportunities vast in credit, but public markets less risky: Wurts

Investment grade corporate debt, non-agency residential and commercial mortgages, high yield corporate debt, and private equity distressed debt all constitute recommended potential mandates in the credit markets, according to director of research at US-based Wurts and Associates, Eric Petroff. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Decision-making revamp crucial to exploiting investment opportunities

Investors with investment decision-making processes that embrace uncertainty and manage risk will be the investment winners in the next five years, according to global chief investment officer of Mercer, Tim Gardener, who believes institutional investors need to revamp their decision-making processes. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Rebalancing revisited: putting risk back on the table

By adopting a contrarian approach to rebalancing which takes account of both assets and liabilities, pension funds could enhance long-term returns and reduce the volatility within their portfolios, new research reveals. Rebalancing Revisited, a paper by Syd Bone, former chief executive of VFMC, and Andrew Goddard, an ex-Russell investment veteran, advocates super funds rebalance to

Abu Dhabi fund hires up for regional M&A service

Continuing its expansionist aims, the Abu Dhabi Investment Corporation (ADIC) has lured an investment banker from Rothschild to focus on cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, which it expects to spike as the financial crisis wears on. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Beware the illiquidity delirium when buying-up credit

Bond markets might be offering comparable returns to equities and a higher place in the capital structure, but they should be approached cautiously as they lack what institutions around the world are trying to maintain – liquidity. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

European funds look to alternatives to manage future risk

European pension schemes are increasing their allocations to non-traditional asset classes as a way to manage risk as a result of turbulent market-prompted investment reviews, according to Mercer’s annual European Asset Allocation Survey. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3

Previous